Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
Monterey Car Week is a fascinating display of automotive collaborations that must be on any aficionado’s bucket list. I attend annually to enjoy the various luxury events and engagements such as Motorlux, The Concept Lawn, The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, and of course, the magnificent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Collectively, this elaborate ensemble of activities highlights an array of defining production models, classic cars, concept vehicles, and elite hypercars from across the globe. But more importantly, you will require stylish transportation to teleport you from venue to venue. In accordance, I selected a Ceres Blue 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T AWD Sport Prestige, which allowed for ubiquitous appearances throughout the energetic week.
I began my journey in San Francisco after a 6-hour flight from Washington, DC. Due to the volume of heavy metal making its way to Monterey, my journey doubled to three hours. That’s six hours of sitting! Fortunately, the GV70 featured heated and ventilated power seats (power lumbar) with ergo features to keep me relaxed, comfortable, and focused. Genesis designed them with a Nappa Leather surface featuring microfibers and added a power cushion extension. Though, this was for the driver’s side only. Smart Cruise Control was essential for the long ride, Highway Driving Assist and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist kept my safety awareness on point, and the Adjustable Interior Ambient Lighting helped me change moods during my extended time in Northern California.
The GV70 luxury crossover from Korean automaker Genesis is the family vanguard and continues its ascension with fresher technologies, human-centric amenities, and welcoming design themes. It’s the head bird in the company’s flock that represented 35% of total sales in 2024 (gas model only). The GV70 has brought a broader, more diverse consumer platform to the young, decade-old company. Uniquely, Genesis doesn’t try to be different; the automaker is different. It’s the Korean way to appease customers with ingenuity and ultimate hospitality. This specific model has an MSRP of $70,095, and the destination/delivery fee is $1,450.
For the prestigious car events held at chateaus, villas, and private airports, you would expect to drive in something costing over $200,000 or more. Yet, I have gone that route, and worrying about parking, damage, and simple entry and exit out of your vehicle is very frustrating. With so much going on, I found getting around in a midsize, luxury SUV simpler. In fact, it drew far more looks and questions of curiosity than I expected. My media guest, Uthman Ray, loved its sporty and dynamic attitude.
Physically, the GV70 is shaped with distinctive lines that are enhanced in the front fascia by a restyled and blinged G-Matrix Crest Grille that you can see coming from a mile away. Enhancements stem from dual trapezoidal exhaust tips embedded within the dark chrome diffuser, signature two-line headlamps and taillamps, and a newly designed rear spoiler that enhances performance. And since I had the Sport Prestige package, my ride came with 21″ 5-star alloy rims wrapped in Michelin Primacy Tour A/S tires as well as:
- Carbon Fiber Trim
- Heated 2nd Row Seats (Outboard)
- Manual Rear Side Sunshades
- 3-Zone Climate Control
- Head-Up Display
- Suede Headliner
- Remote Smart Parking Assist
Additionally, the Ceres Blue ($650 surcharge) hue was named after a geographic location. Specifically, Genesis themed it after the dwarf planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Thoughtful engineering can be found in the Electronically Controlled Suspension with Road Preview, which monitors lane inclines and adjusts height accordingly so the GV70 doesn’t bottom out. An electronic limited-slip differential helps the SUV overcome wheel slip by providing torque to either the rear right or left wheel. On the curvaceous roads of the Monterey Highlands–combined with Sport mode–the GV70 had no problem hanging with defining sports cars on the same road. Its suspension and agility are so good. Don’t get me wrong; they would have blown me away on a runway!
Speaking of which, my GV70 featured a 3.5L V6 Twin-Turbo engine with 375-horsepower, which is adequate for the SUV’s size and weight. It pairs with AWD and an 8-speed automatic transmission. A smaller 2.5-liter Inline 4 Turbo producing 300-horsepower is the second powertrain choice.
Inside the inviting cabin, I was appeased by jewelry-inspired controls and the new 27” OLED display that combines the instrument cluster and its digital white gauges with the navigation and infotainment screens. Additional tech includes a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system that replaces the prior Lexicon system and Drive Mode Select with a new Terrain Mode. A few new music albums had just come out, so the audio system was on full blast when I was alone. Of course, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and enhanced OTA connectivity are at your disposal. The serene Ultramarine Blue cockpit exquisitely contrasts with the orange seatbelts and stitching, representing Genesis’ Magma Orange racing platform. I also loved the meaty, flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters and the grid-patterned alloy pedals. The combo made me feel like a pro driver.
Safety comes in the form of a bevy of advanced technologies including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2, Lane Following Assist, Steering Wheel Hands-On Detection, Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, Digital Key 2, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Speed Bump Detection, Surround View Monitor, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. As you can see, the GV70 is well-rounded in the prevention department.
Wow, what a fantastic week at Monterey Car Week—full of excitement and drive time. But like they say, “all good things must come to an end.” My cruise back to SFO was more tranquil as I reminisced on the precious moments manifested. Though the time between car week is too prolonged, you can continue creating daily euphoria from the athletic elegance of your new 2026 Genesis GV70.
